26 JULY

Japanese occupies the US colony, the Philippines

1941 - Lt. Gen. Douglas McArthur, military adviser to the United States colonial government in the Philippine Islands dubbed the "Philippine Commonwealth," is placed in active service as commander of the newly created USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East) during World War II; some 100,000 Filipino soldiers whom MacArthur has trained in modern warfare will be inducted under his command; however, in five months' time, Bataan province, where McArthur will run to his retreat, will fall and Japan will be able to occupy the US colony, the Philippines, until 1945.


Photo credit: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skylib/oralhist/Ignacio/